Hame-fastener.



Patented Dec. 19, I899.

.1 H: OUTLIFF. HAME FASTENER.

(Application filed July 29, 1898.)

(No Model.)

NiTnn 'rn'rns JOSEPH I-IOLLIDAY OUTLIFF, on MACON, GEORGIA.

HAM E FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,535, dated December19, 1899. Application filed J'uly29, 1898. Serial No. 687,177. (Nomodel.)

T0 to whom it filmy concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HOLLIDAY CUT- LIFF, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harrie-Fasteners;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being badto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inhame-fasteners, and especially to anewand improved means whereby theends of the hames may be quickly and easily locked together anddetached, the ends being held together by means of ratchet-teeth and aspring-pawl, meanslbeing provided for guarding against the pawls beingreleased and also for relieving the spring-pawl of pressure or strainthat might come upon the same.

More specifically, the invention consists in providing, in connectionwith the ratchet-bar and hollow shell, a spring-pawl with wedgeshapedtooth-engaging end, said pawl being so mounted on the hollow shell as tohave a slight sliding longitudinal movement thereon, while near the freeend of the pawl, on the outer circumference of the shell, is a loopdesigned to protect the spring-pawl.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the sameconsists, further, in the novel construction and adaptation of theparts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specificallydefined in the appended claims.

Myinvention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which,with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisapplication, and in which drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved hame-fastening. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectionthrough the fasteners when locked together. Fig. 3 is a detail View ofthe hollow shell, showing the sliding spring-pawl secured thereto.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings, A designates acurved ratchetrod to one end of which a hame is to be attached, and itsother end is beveled, so as to allow of its readily entering the hollowshell B, which is to be attached to one end of a hame in the usualmanner. This hollow shell is slightly curved, as illustrated, to conformto the shape of the curved ratchet-rod. Mounted on the circumference ofthe shell is the springpawl D, which is held to the shell by means of abolt E, passed through the wall of the shell and through an elongatedslot Fin said pawl. A portion of said pawl is bent at substantiallyright angles to the length of the pawl 1 and is preferably slightlywedge-shaped, as illustrated, for the purpose of making its hold againstthe teeth of the ratchet-rod as secure as possible. This bent andwedge-shaped end of the pawl rests normally in a transverse recess G insaid shell and in the path of the ratchet-rod, so that as the rod isforced into the end of the shell the beveled end of said rod willcontact against the under edge of the wedge-shaped end of the pawl andthe latter will be forced up, and the resiliency of the pawl will causeits end to spring back into a notch or tooth of the rod. As the end ofthe ratchet-rod is inserted in the shell and comes in contact with thelug on the pawl the latter is forced slightly longitudinally until thelug strikes against the edge of the recessed portion, which limits itsmovement in one direction, after which the free end of the pawl willrise and allow the end of the ratchet-rod to pass on, the pawl engagingwith one of the notches of the ratchet-rod, thus locking the rod to theshell. When there is any pulling strain on the ends of the hame, theratchet-rod will engage against the lug on the pawl and draw it slightlylongitudinally in the opposite direction until the opposite side of thepawl-lug strikes against the edge of the recessed portion nearest theend of the-shell in which the ratchet-rod first enters and can move nofarther, and any strain which might otherwise come upon the pin E willbe transferred to the lug on the pawl, which bears against the edge ofthe recess when there is a strain on the connecting parts. In order torelease the rod from the pawl, it will be necessary to raise the freeend of the pawl from its engaging notch or tooth. On the surface of thesaid shell is a loop H, which is located adjacent to the recess in whichthe wedge-shaped end of the pawl engages, as illustrated, and struck upfrom the pawl is a strip K, which is bent forward and extends throughthe loop H, which serves as a guide for the extension and prevents alateral movement of the free end of the pawl, as well as limiting itsupward throw.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the haine may be easily andquickly adjusted to diiterent-sized collars, the pawl prevented frominjury by reason of the loop, and owing to the slight sliding movementwhich is allowed the pawl will prevent any pressure coming upon thelatter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Afastener forhames, comprising in combination the ratchet-rod, thehollow shell to receive said rod, a spring-pawl secured to the shell andhaving abent end resting in a recess in the shell and in the path of theratchet rod, said pawl having a slight sliding longitudinal movement,and a guide for its free end, as set forth.

2. In a hame-fastener,the combination with the ratchet-rod and shell toreceive same, of the spring-pawl having an elongated slot and headed pinpassed through said slot and secured to the shell, the wedge-shapedteethengaging portion of the pawl adapted to have a slight longitudinalplay in a recess in the shell, and a struck-up portion of the pawlextending into a loop on the shell, designed to guide the pawl in itslongitudinal and vertical movements, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH HOLLIDAY OUTLIFF.

Witnesses:

WELDEN A. HARDING, GEO. W. RowELL.

